176 
CLARKEV TRAVELS a 
place, all 'communication with Alexandria was said to be inters 
rapted. Immediately after the capture of Rachmanie, the Eng¬ 
lish arrny began its inarch to Cairo. Their route was along 
the banks of the Nile. They proceeded about ten miles a day, 
suffering much from the heat, as well as from the drenching dew 
and the mosquitoes during the night. Berelos and Damiata, 
upon the coast, were moreover abandoned by the French and 
Maltese, and taken possession of by the Turks. The Maltese 
deserted to us, and the French, putting to sea, were captured by 
our fleet. 
Upon the twenty-second of April, Captain Clarke con^ 
veyed us, in his cutter, to visit the English camp off Alexan¬ 
dria; on which occasion we first landed in Egypt. We entered 
the lake of Aboiikir by the block house, remaining a short time 
to examine the landing place of our troops. The waters of this 
extensive lake broke in from the sea in the year 1784. It is 
every where shallow ; and so full of fishes, that they leap into 
the boats passing over the lake ; a circumstance which greatly 
surprised us. The opening of the sluices for the inundation of 
the old bed of lake Mareotis had then drained it so low, that 
boats could barely pass. We were often stranded, and every 
one of us obliged to get into the water, for the purpose of heav¬ 
ing our bark over the mud, upon which she rested. We landed 
just below the English camp, and beheld the extraordinary 
spectacle of a desert rendered lively by the presence of a British 
army; admiring the singular concurrence of circumstances 
which had occasioned an exhibition of English soldiers and 
sailors, lounging about, and seemingly at home, upon the sands 
of Egypt. The shore was covered with palm trees in full bloom, 
making, at this season of the year, a splendid appearance.— 
Arabs and Moors were seen mounted on dromedaries and ca¬ 
mels; while the officers of our army appeared cantering upon 
asses, to and from the little shops established by Greeks in tents 
near the shore. The strong reflection of the sun’s rays from the 
sand is painful; but the most refreshing breezes, as constant as 
the sun, daily cool this parched coast. We* did not experience 
any oppressive degree of heat, but walked about two miles, from 
the shore to the camp, with great pleasure. The sands were 
covered with rare plants; and these were all in flower. 
The 12th dragoons, the regiment to which our visit was prin¬ 
cipally intended, had received orders to march for Rosetta the 
day following that on which we arrived. We dined with them 
io-their Egyptian mess room : this consisted of a square hqfc 
